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Aristocrat cracks Nevada market with Penguin Pays video slot

Jan 17, 2001 3:18 AM

Aristocrat Technologies of Australia will soon begin a field trial of
its Penguin Pays slot machine for Nevada in February.

The machine was submitted to the Nevada gaming testing laboratory last
year, and is one of Aristocrat’s most popular games in other markets. The 5-reel
video slot features a chilly penguin which heats up when two icebergs occur at the same
time, triggering a second-screen bonus round

Station Casinos Inc. has agreed to allow Sunset Station in Henderson to
be the site of the field trial.

"We are very excited about the trial which we anticipate will
start in February," said Ken Jolly, Aristocrat’s vice president of sales,
marketing and service. "We are particularly pleased that Station Casinos has agreed
to host the field trial."

Jolly said the company expected the trial to take minimum 60 days.

"It is not uncommon for field trials to commence prior to a
notation on the Nevada gaming authorities’ agenda for consideration," he said.
"On successful completion of the field trial, approval of Aristocrat’s product
will be listed on the Nevada gaming authorities’ agenda for consideration."

Jolly said Aristocrat was on track to make Aristocrat games available
to Nevada customers during the first half of this year.

Alliance enlists Popeye the Sailor

Alliance Gaming Corporation announced that it has secured rights to the
Popeye character for a new Thrillions wide-area progressive video slot game for its Bally
Gaming and Systems unit.

Alliance and King Features Syndicate have entered into a long-term
agreement that gives Alliance rights to create a series of new Popeye games for initial
release in New Jersey, California and other Native American markets.

The contract with King Features follows similar agreements that
produced the highly popular Betty Boop progressive games and the current launch of Blondie
progressive slots.

Landing the Popeye cartoon license allows Bally to build on its
strategy of offering games with classic American icons that appeal to the traditional
slot-playing demo-graphic segments.

Popeye was introduced to the public in 1929. Along with characters Olive Oyl, Bluto,
Wimpy and Brutus, the Popeye series has inspired television programming, feature films and
endorsement deals.